W.c. Shoemaker

1931 - 2019

W.C. Shoemaker

Kosciusko - W.C. "Dub" Shoemaker-journalist, businessman, philanthropist, friend-died Sunday, October 27, 2019, at the Arbor in Ridgeland, MS. A native of Simpson County, Shoemaker was born on November 19, 1931, to the late Ezra and Saleta Shoemaker. He was the eldest of the five children, all of whom preceded him in death: Virginia McNeese; Jean Shoemaker; Hollis Shoemaker; and Carolyn Wightman.

Dub was married to Nell Slade Shoemaker from Sumrall, who died January 5, 2007. Nell was a nurse and started the nurse education program for Holmes Community College. In October 2017, HCC dedicated its nursing school facilities at the Attala Center in Kosciusko, naming it the Shoemaker Nursing Wing.

Sisters-in-law Sylvia (Sam) Shoemaker, Lina Fortenberry, Peggy Barclay (Johnny), and Dorothy Regan survive him, along with a number of nephews and nieces and other family.

In the fall of 1949, Shoemaker became a staff member of the Jackson Daily News, where he worked for the next 16 years except for a two-year break for Army service during the Korean War. He began as an office boy and quickly rose to the position of reporter. For ten years beginning in the mid-fifties, he covered many of the Civil Rights issues in the South. One of the notable stories he covered was the Emmett Till murder and the trial of the accused murderers in the MS Delta in 1955. In 1963 he visited with Medger Evers about 9:30 p.m. following a rally Evers' group held at a Jackson church. Evers was shot and killed later that night. Shoemaker went to University Hospital to check on Evers' body about 1:30 a.m. He was with the police the next morning when they found the rifle which supposedly killed Evers; in addition, he published the serial number on the rifle which led police to the man who was charged in the murder of Evers. The murders of three young Civil Rights workers in Philadelphia in 1963 was also a story reported by Shoemaker.

In 1965, he and partner George Keith bought The Star Herald in Kosciusko. Dub and Nell moved there that year. Later Mr. Keith sold his share of the paper to Dub. He also owned newspapers in Pontotoc, Mississippi State, Forest, Morton, Mendenhall, and Madison. He owned and operated a printing business in Kosciusko which produced newspapers and newspaper inserts throughout most of the nation. As well, he was a partner in a typography shop in Jackson and partnered in Bluff Springs Paper in Kosciusko at its inception.

Shoemaker served as chairman of the Mississippi Economic Council, chairman of the Mississippi Job Training Council, and chairman of the Kosciusko-Attala Chamber of Commerce, along with a similar role in the community economic development foundation.

For many years he served on the Board of Directors of the Holmes Community College Foundation. He was a member of the Board of Directors of the Mississippi State University Foundation and a former member of the State Board of Education Accreditation Committee.

For 28 years he served as a member of the Board of Directors of Merchants and Farmers Bank, a $1.6 billion financial institution which was headquartered in Kosciusko and served areas in Mississippi, Tennessee, and Alabama.

Dub served as President of the Mississippi Press Association and was elected to its Hall of Fame. He received citations in journalism from the University of Mississippi, The University of Southern Mississippi, and the Mississippi University for Women.

Dub was active in the Rotary Club and was a Paul Harris Fellow. He was well-known for his devotion to the betterment of Kosciusko, Attala County, and the state of Mississippi. He was also a member of First Presbyterian Church of Kosciusko. Dub was known for never saying "No" to any request for help from anyone.

Visitation will be 5-7 p.m. Tuesday, October 29 and 11-2 p.m. Wednesday October 30 at Jordan Funeral Home in Kosciusko. Funeral services will be 2 p.m. on Wednesday in the Jordan Funeral Home Chapel with burial in the Parkway Cemetery. Rev. Phillip Palmertree and Rev. Barry Corbett will officiate.

Memorials to French Camp Academy, One Fine Place, French Camp, MS 39745-9989 would be appreciated gifts.

Online condolences can be made at jordanfuneralhome.com.